Possible Giant Swallowtail Sighting

10 years ago

My daughter alerted me to a swallowtail on our phlox a couple of days ago. I took a look out of the window and almost fell over--it looked like a Giant Swallowtail! I've never seen one in person, so I grabbed my phone and raced outside. I must have spooked it, since it took flight before I could snap a photograph. So, is it uncommon for a Giant Swallowtail to be in the Philadelphia area? I'm about an hour north of the city...

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Comments (3)

Leafhead
10 years ago
Giant Swallowtails make it as far north as Madison, WI in the hot Summer months, so I don't see why they wouldn't migrate up the coast as well. I'm not sure which host plants would grow well in your area, but I imagine Rue would work fine. Phlox and Milkweed are some favorite nectar sources for Swallowtails.
onelunalady
10 years ago
I live in Ohio and we had a female Giant lay eggs on a hop tree. I raised several cats earlier this year. We don't see them often, though. They're beautiful.
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caterwallin
10 years ago
I live in central PA, about 50 miles north of Harrisburg and I have Giant Swallowtails here every year. It took a few years of butterfly gardening before I had any show up here. They love to nectar on my Verbena bonariensis and butterfly bushes. I raise the cats on gas plant, rue and wafer ash. I'm raising some right now. Congrats on your sighting!
Cathy